Picture Courtesy: A Raja ChidambaramBy G Saravanan,
Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on June 4, 2010:
Temporary heavy vehicle drivers, working for the Chennai Corporation, attempted self-immolation on Thursday at Ripon Building after the civic body failed to regularise them despite a court order. However, timely intervention by Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni prevented them from taking the extreme step after he promised action on their plea within this month.
The drivers assembled around 9.45 am inside the civic body’s headquarters, planning to immolate themselves on CM Karunanidhi’s birthday to draw attention to their plight. Policemen posted there immediately conveyed the same to the Corporation Commissioner.
A police official even established a mobile phone conversation between one of the temporary drivers and Lakhoni, but the drivers had made up their minds. Sensing trouble, Lakhoni immediately rushed out to the Ripon Building and negotiated with them, after which they left the premises.
When Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin was city Mayor during 1996, all the 28 temporary drivers were appointed as daily wage staff and since then, have been working for the civic body as drivers for higher officials like chief engineers and assistant commissioners.
Acting on their plea for regularisation of their jobs, the Madras High Court in April 2009 ordered the Chennai Corporation to make them permanent within six weeks and inform the details to court afterwards.
However, neither the court order nor an assurance given by Corporation Mayor M Subramanian in April this year was carried out.
Even after working for 14 years, the drivers still receive Rs 165 per day as their daily wage.
The drivers assembled around 9.45 am inside the civic body’s headquarters, planning to immolate themselves on CM Karunanidhi’s birthday to draw attention to their plight. Policemen posted there immediately conveyed the same to the Corporation Commissioner.
A police official even established a mobile phone conversation between one of the temporary drivers and Lakhoni, but the drivers had made up their minds. Sensing trouble, Lakhoni immediately rushed out to the Ripon Building and negotiated with them, after which they left the premises.
When Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin was city Mayor during 1996, all the 28 temporary drivers were appointed as daily wage staff and since then, have been working for the civic body as drivers for higher officials like chief engineers and assistant commissioners.
Acting on their plea for regularisation of their jobs, the Madras High Court in April 2009 ordered the Chennai Corporation to make them permanent within six weeks and inform the details to court afterwards.
However, neither the court order nor an assurance given by Corporation Mayor M Subramanian in April this year was carried out.
Even after working for 14 years, the drivers still receive Rs 165 per day as their daily wage.
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